Combat sans honneur 3: Guerre par procuration

Stumbles in ways the first two didn't, and so easily is my least favourite entry in this series so far... but that being said, it's still pretty good.

While the Yazuza Papers films are often hard to follow, at least with the first two I understood the different sides of the conflicts, and could identify a handful of important individuals. This one really expands things and has far more names to remember. As far as I can tell, it also has more factions, and also more areas to keep track of, as geographically, things also feel like they expand.

I struggled to keep up, but it may be because I watched an unfortunately edited version? It was an offical bluray release, but it ran at about 102 minutes instead of the nearly two-hour runtime listed here. Perhaps the extra 15-ish minutes would make things more clear, if you happen to find the longer version.

I still liked the film's style of course, as well as the handheld camerawork and the crazy bursts of violence. The intrigue I could understand was neat, and I stayed engaged by wondering about whether the protagonist was actually in control of what he was doing, or just pretending he was and consistently panicking internally at the insanity around him.

It ends well too, and in a way that got me excited to see parts 4 and 5, so despite this being a slight misstep, hopefully the rest of the series is onward, upward, and unedited!

Returning the focus to Bunta Sugawara's gangster Hirono and the ongoing brutal power plays after the events of its predecessor, Proxy War ups the betrayal, scheming and chaos akin to that of a ticking time bomb, counting down to detonation. Alliances are formed only to be broken the next second, rival parties are reconciled only to go at it again the next day. It's definitely the most deliberately paced entry so far, a slow burn and a convoluted one at that to be sure, as the yakuza get richer and expand, they also grow more cautious, preferring to handle situations with mediators at a dinner table instead of in a dark alley with a knife. A real testament to Kazuo Kasahara's meticulously crafted screenplay. Kinji Fukasaku attempts to show some semblance of restraint in the chaos this time, taking his time to build the field of play before it all erupts in sudden assassinations and gangland violence, there's not as much blood as in previous instalments, but when violence erupts, you feel it. Fukasaku's use of widescreen filming techniques is on full display here, filling every inch of the frame with movement and colour. You could watch these scenes multiple times and each time focus on something different because every actor is doing something, unwilling to go unnoticed even when the scene is being powered by someone else. Everyone fights for your attention and thanks to the continually strong performances from the cast, they all demand it. Backed by another exceptional score by Toshiaki Tsushima, it's hard not to appreciate just how well Proxy War tells its story. It has enough going on to fill out a three-hour film but the fact that Fukasaku delivered that story in under two hours is rather amazing, a tight film with not a single wasted scene or subplot. While the film may lack some of the chaotic madness seen in the first two films it more than makes up for that with a clear vision and a deftly plotted screenplay.

Chances are, if you're reading this, you've already seen the first two installments or have a vague idea of what The Yakuza Papers are all about. Battles without Honor and Humanity. That sums up the yakuza lifestyle pretty well, and even though I haven't done any research on the actual yakuza, there's a palpable sense of gritty realism in Fukasaku's crime sagas that is very convincing.

Proxy War is another chapter in the long series of betrayal, scheming and chaos among the rival families of Hiroshima. Alliances are formed only to be broken the next second and rival parties are renonciled only to go at it again the next day. Without going into much details, Proxy War details the chronicles that led to the Hiroshima battle between the Yamamori and the Akashi families in the early 60's. There's a semblance of honor among thieves here, but it's just a semblance. These people lack the warped sense of honor and loyalty the Cosa Nostra had. As Hirono says, "he just wants a safe ground to stand". The same could be said for all of them.

Once again, Bunta Sugawara steals the show as Shizo Hirono, and there's also a welcome cameo by the beautiful Reiko Ike (a pinku regular). There's not as much blood as in previous installments, but when violence erupts, you feel it. Fukasaku's direction is solid and keeps the convoluted plot going on a steady pace. The fights and shootings are gritty and raw, there's no Guy Ritchie glamour or glorified violence here. It kind of reminds me of the urban guerilla film-making of a Cassavetes or Mean Streets-era Scorsese. Coupled with a haunting score, and great performances all around, PW doesn't dissappoint.

There's a semblance of honor among thieves here, but it's just a semblance. These people lack the warped sense of honor and loyalty the Cosa Nostra had. As Hirono says, "he just wants a safe ground to stand". The same could be said for all of them.

My only gripe is, that plot-wise, there's no counter-balance to the scheming and back stabbing. Unlike The Godfather and other crime epics about the Italian mob, we never get to see the criminal side of the Yakuza. Money-laundering, smuggling, drug trafficking, prostitution, they're the bread and butter of any self respecting mob. Yet we never get a glimpse of that world in The Yakuza Papers. And if the unrelenting violence and interesting plot were enough to make the first two installments amazing, it gets repetitive here. People gather around tables to discuss their plans, form alliances, break alliances and that's it for most of the time. IMO it would be more interesting if the two aspects were combined. As it is, it feel kind of incomplete. The Akashi family, for example, butt in to help Uchimoto, but it's obvious that apart from defending the honor of their sworn brother, in the same time, it serves as a way of getting in the Hiroshima underworld. Yet we never witness what makes said underworld a place worth risking their men over.

All in all, this is strongly recommended to people who enjoyed the first parts of the series. If you're a newcomer, start with the first one. The plot, characters and motivations will make more sense. And you'll know by the point you reach Proxy War, if this is your cup of tea or not.

The third film in Kinji Fukasaku's unremitting, sprawling, epic yakuza series, made up of five films shot in Japan between 1973 and 1974. The first film, BATTLES WITHOUT HONOR AND HUMANITY, I thought was pretty good, but a bit confusingly plotted which worked against it. The sequel, Hiroshima Death Match, was excellent in its plotting of Sonny Chiba and his grudge match and a big improvement over the first.

PROXY WAR is a slight step down from Hiroshima Death Match, but only slight. This is an effective tale that draws you deep into the yakuza underworld as it explores rivalry between various factions and the sort of violent, day-to-day incidents that make up gangster warfare. I found that series lead Bunta Sugawara had a much clearer role this time around, and gets to do plenty of quality acting as the conflicted, hard-headed man of violence.

As is the norm with this series, Fukasaku's production values are top notch and the pace is lightning fast. I particularly liked the vignettes of non-stop violence that reveal the brutality of yakuza warfare. The supporting, all-star cast is exemplary and PROXY WAR makes a particular effort with the characterisation this time around so that the heads of the families and the underbosses are no longer just names and faces but living, breathing people. I look forward to the fourth instalment, POLICE TACTICS.

Third in the series, Battles Without Honour & Humanity and even more confusing than the first two. Those were interesting and involving enough to persist, especially with the historic background but here it seems to be just one 'battle' after another. Admittedly the fights are bloody and violent enough but the constant references to duty and family and honour and betrayal is very waring. I found it difficult to keep up with all the inter family struggles and very soon gave up trying.